Wedding Flower Preservation
A florist’s guide to floral preservation services
Part of the beauty of flowers is their ephemeral nature. They remind us that life is fleeting, to make the most of each day and cherish memories made with friends and loved ones. Particularly on our wedding day, flowers feel like a way to solidify moments into memory - through scent, texture, and visual beauty, before fading with the day itself - never to be repeated and thus so very special.
As a wedding florist who is inspired by the ever-changing natural world, I am always enraptured by watching a floral display slowly change over the course of weeks, dry out and ultimately go back to the earth from where it came.
Despite their fleeting beauty being a large part of why I love flowers, there is also something beautiful about capturing & preserving the brief life of a flower. Many couples want their bouquets, or other wedding flower arrangements, to live on beyond the date of their wedding to encapsulate their memories into something that will live on - an heirloom to pass down through generations to come & a visual reminder of the beauty of their special day. Though it's impossible to create a fresh bouquet that will live forever, there is a whole world of bouquet preservation specialists ready to turn your wedding flowers into gorgeous pieces of artwork to enjoy long after the day itself. As more and more of my couples ask for recommendations for these types of services, I decided to look a bit deeper into wedding flower preservation and chat to some of the artists that offer this bespoke service. I discovered there are so many creative and beautiful ways to create floral keepsakes to remind you of your wedding day that you may not have considered yet.
Below is a list of UK based floral preservation specialists offering unique & bespoke services, from capturing your wedding bouquet in watercolour paints, to encasing your floral arrangements in resin design pieces.
Katie Hipwell
Wedding Bouquet Portraits
Katie is a watercolour artist and illustrator based in Kingsbridge, Devon. After spending 8 years working as a print designer, Katie started her independent design business in 2018. Alongside her children’s nursery wallpaper designs, Katie creates delicate, emotive watercolour portraits of your wedding bouquets. She works from photographs of your wedding flowers, so there is no need to go through the complicated process of shipping your actual bouquet.
I asked Katie to explain a little bit about her artistic process and what she offers:
‘Working from your wedding photos, I carefully study each petal, leaf and delicate detail to create a portrait that is both botanically accurate and artistically beautiful. Each piece is painted entirely by hand using professional watercolour techniques, the result is something truly special that captures not just the look of your bouquet, but its essence and emotion.
It's a wonderful complement to the flowers themselves, and a keepsake that will last a lifetime long after the blooms have faded. Portraits are available in A4 or A3 and can be framed and personalised with hand-painted text, such as the wedding date or the couple's names.’
Find out more about Katie’s wedding bouquet portraits and how to get started with your bespoke commision:
Website: katiehipwell.co.uk
Instagram: @katiehipwelldesign
Lucy Did This
Luxury Resin Furniture & Keepsakes
Lucy Did This creates bespoke, one of a kind, art-led designs from your wedding flowers - from unique furniture pieces, like console tables, to smaller decor pieces such as bookends, christmas tree decorations and candle holders. I asked Lucy to explain a bit more about her design process and philosophy behind her gorgeous work:
‘I view flower preservation through an artistic lens rather than a purely functional one. My work is high-end and bespoke, designed for couples who want their wedding florals transformed into a statement piece of fine art. My process is deeply collaborative and “art-led,” ensuring the final design feels like a curated reflection of the wedding day.
While I love working on smaller keepsakes and decor, I specialise in luxury resin furniture. I am best known for my:
• Console Tables: Perfect for hallways or behind sofas.
• Circular Side Tables: A stunning, structural way to display a full bouquet.
• Bespoke Decor: High-end pieces that bridge the gap between interior design and sentimental preservation.
Every petal is handled with extreme care and attention to detail. Because I am obsessed with the “why” behind what I do, I maintain a very friendly and adaptable approach with my clients. Whether it’s a massive statement table or a smaller tabletop piece, the level of precision remains the same. I just love what I do at every level, and I think that passion shows in the clarity and composition of the resin.’
Discover more of Lucy’s work and how to commission your own unique art-piece:
Website: lucydid.co.uk
Instagram: @lucydidthis
Little Loop Embroidery
Embroidered Bouquet Keepsakes
Sal, the face behind Little Loop Embroidery, creates embroidered bouquet designs by working from photographs of your wedding flowers. She offers 2 different sizes of hoop - 12.5cm or 15cm - and can include details like your wedding date & names, making it a truly unique piece.
I asked Sal to explain a bit more about her process and why she loves working with couples:
‘Hand embroidery is one of my absolute favourite things to do, so I’m incredibly lucky to have made it my full-time job. I love how intentional it is as a creative process, I love the challenge of recreating the feel of each bouquet, and I feel honoured that people entrust me with their special memories. All I need to work from is at least one photo. Obviously this also means I can embroider bouquets no matter how long ago the wedding was, which is handy if you didn’t think of it at the time!
I don’t copy the photos exactly - all my embroidery is done by hand, so it’s purely my brain turning the photo into the design, no computers or machines involved! I’ll usually sketch each design out a few times, to clarify exactly what to include, and then I’ll work from my sketches and the photos to get the colours and details just right. My aim is to preserve the overall arrangement and represent all the key blooms. I can absolutely tweak the design to make sure the most important details are visible, so do tell me about those things.’
Find out more about Little Loop Embroidery or place an order:
Etsy shop: etsy.co.uk/LittleLoopHandmade
Instagram: @littleloopembroidery
Sarah Caswell
Botanical Fine Artist
Sarah is a contemporary artist who creates sumptuous, baroque style botanical paintings. Since 2011, Sarah has exhibited her work annually at the RHS Chelsea Flower show in London, and has received several awards in recognition of her artistry. She also received the ‘Peoples’ Choice’ Award’ twice, and the ‘Presidents’ Choice Award’ from the Society of Botanical Artists.
Occasionally Sarah takes on commissions to capture the beauty of wedding flowers for couples who are looking to invest in a truly special, one of a kind heirloom to treasure forever. Her work is big, bold & sumptuous in an intricate, baroque style.
Sarah describes her wedding flower portrait commissions as:
‘a permanent and high end memorial to the artistry of wedding flowers [...] I have done a number of these commissions. Ranging from just using lilies of the valley which were a part of the bouquet to sourcing all the flowers used and then arranging them into a composition. One lovely couple who were marrying after a decade together wanted one of my paintings and got the wedding guests to contribute to it rather than the traditional wedding list. They were in their 50's so didn't need any more toasters!’
If you want a statement piece to cherish, visit Sarah’s website for examples of her work and pricing, give her a follow on instagram, or look for her stall at RHS Chelsea this year:
Website: sarahcaswell.co.uk
Instagram: @sarahcaswellpaintings
Smart Floral Art
Pressed Flower Preservation
Smart Floral Art specialise in transforming your most treasured blooms into bespoke pieces of botanical art. Based in the heart of Lancashire and serving the entire UK, Smart Floral Art ensure your wedding flowers stay as timeless as your vows. Their simple postal system allows couples from anywhere in the UK to use their services.
I asked them to explain a little bit more about their creative process & what services they offer:
‘While flower pressing is a centuries-old tradition, we bring a modern, minimalist aesthetic to our work. We don’t just "save" flowers; we redesign them. Every piece is handmade to order, ensuring that the unique character of your bouquet is captured in a way that suits your home’s decor.
Our Process: From Bouquet to Frame
Preserving flowers is a slow, delicate craft that requires patience and precision. Here is how we make the magic happen:
Hand-Pressing & Drying: We carefully deconstruct your arrangement and press each bloom to maintain its delicate structure and colour.
Artistic Re-arrangement: Once dried, we thoughtfully arrange your flowers into a flat, timeless design.
Bespoke Framing: We offer a variety of styles to suit your taste, from romantic heart designs and circular frames to traditional wooden rectangles or sleek, frameless acrylic designs.
Because perfection takes time, our preservation process typically takes up to 16 weeks. It’s a slow art movement, but we promise the result is well worth the wait.
More Than Just the Bouquet:
While the bridal bouquet is often the star of the show, we believe every floral detail of your wedding is worth keeping. We can preserve:
Table centrepieces
Buttonholes and corsages
Groom and Father-of-the-bride arrangements
Single "statement" blooms
Pro Tip: Timing is Everything! Flowers are best preserved when they are fresh. Ideally, we like to receive them within one week of your event. If more time has passed, don't panic—reach out to us anyway! We will assess the condition of your blooms and do our absolute best to create something beautiful for you.
To find out more about Smart Floral Art and start your floral preservation journey, visit their website or give them a follow on instagram:
Website: smartfloralart.co.uk
Instagram: @smartfloralart
